Col. Russell Reck, USAR, Retired: Russell was born August 17, 1930 in Collinsville, Oklahoma to Gus and Adra Reck. He married Martha Jean Spencer Holtmann in Muskogee in 1963. Martha and Russell had four children and the family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1978 where they remained the rest of their lives. Russell passed away July 12, 2022 at the age of 91.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Martha (2012), and his son, Russell Reck, Jr. (2020). He is survived by his three children; Harold L. (Skip) Holtmann and his wife Jean of Broken Arrow; Robert D. Reck and his wife Frieda of Tulsa; and Renee S. Beasley and her husband Wes of Bixby; and his cousin Earlene Reck Henry (Gene) of Nowata and his brother, Fred Reck of California. Russell's six grandchildren also survive him: Holly A. Patterson (Dan); Scott J. Holtmann (Jennifer); Daniel H. Reck (Hanh); David H. Reck (Amanda); Griffin S. Beasley and Gabrielle J. Beasley. In addition, he is survived by four great-grandchildren: Kai Patterson, Cassie Patterson, Carter Holtmann and Corey Holtmann, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Throughout his adult life Russell and his wife Martha were very active in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Russell taught Sunday School, acted as a Youth Counselor at Walther League Camp and was involved with Vacation Bible School. He faithfully served as an Elder (and at times the Chairman of the Board of Elders) of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Broken Arrow Oklahoma for many decades. He conducted services at a mission congregation twice monthly for eighteen months under the direction of the Senior Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He was a life-long active member of the Lutheran Layman's League.

He graduated from Oologah-Talala High School in Rogers County, Oklahoma in 1948. He received his BS Degree in 1955 from Northeastern State University and a Masters Degree from Vanderbilt University in 1958. He worked as a Speech Pathologist; School Administrator and Public School Teacher from 1955 to 1987. He entered the U.S Army in 1951 and joined the Army Reserve in 1954 as a Sergeant E-7. He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in 1960 and retired as a Full Colonel, USAR in 1990. After retiring from the Army, Colonel Reck continued as a volunteer leading outstanding young men from Oklahoma in accomplishing their goals to become a Cadet at The United States Military Academy - West Point. Among his many active-duty military accomplishments, Colonel Reck was appointed as the Oklahoma Coordinator for The United States Military Academy in 1980. For his years of tireless and effective service, on behalf of West Point, Colonel Reck was awarded the Legion of Merit medal in 1985 for "exceptional service" including the "singular achievement" of being "directly involved with the enrollment of 145 cadets to the United States Military Academy."

Russell was a life member of the National Education Association; Oklahoma Education Association; Reserve Officer's Association; and the Tulsa Retired Teachers Association. He was also Past President of the Muskogee Oklahoma Noon Lions Club; Past President of the Muskogee Education Association and served on various committees of the Oklahoma Education Association and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be contributed to: Immanuel Lutheran Church or Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy.
His funeral service will be at 9:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Internment at Fort Gibson National Cemetery will follow under the direction of Moore's Rosewood Chapel. (918) 744-1202. See moorefuneral.com